Welcome to Ghost Notes. Royalty Free Impressionistic Improvisational Piano music by Composer, William Cushman, that explores different feelings and situations.
Please listen, enjoy, try to understand what I'm trying to say with the music.. and feel free to pass this gift on to others.
A special welcome to the FREE PBX users!

Friday, May 16, 2014

I composed three "Drifting" pieces in the same day. This is the second one.
And honestly, I love this one.. it is one of my favorites. You see, I don't plan on these compositions.. they just happen.. like a fortunate accident.
This one is slightly different than the first, but they go together.. they capture the soft lilting lullaby that the water sings to us.
I love these moments.. whether I am at the beach or the lake.. when the soft breeze teases across your face and all is right with the world.Drifting Part2.Mp3(c) 2012 William Cushman (2:17 / 2.7Mb)
To directly download to your computer click this icon:--------Royalty and Commercial free Want to use this piece in your project or website at no cost? Just ask. Send me a quick email: Email-Bill

Monday, May 12, 2014

For several years, people have asked if I could provide them with "just the accompaniment" music for many of the hymns that I play on Sundays at church.

I believe God has now provided a good time to do some of those recordings.

The method is actually kind of simple. I just asked the sound-guy, Carl, if he would turn down all of the other microphones and just record me and Jamie (the percussionist) during services or practices. Afterwards, we will sort through the recordings and just chuck the ones that don't cut the mustard.

Here's one we did last night. "Holy, Holy, Holy!" words by Reginald Heber (1783–1826) & music by John B. Dykes (1823-1876). The overall volume is a little low, and the bass drum is a little loud. And I messed up and hit a c-natural on one the verses.. but otherwise, I think it's nice.

I begin it with a standard 8 measure introduction and then it begins. I do 4 verses. If you know the words, feel free to sing along.

Monday, February 18, 2013

I hate to admit it.. but my own music actually puts me to sleep. I suppose that is why i'm inspired to compose it. Sometimes.. I just need to relax and forget the stress of this world.. and drift off into a cozy, carefree slumber. Nobody ever said that life was easy. But I have been promised that I will not be given more than I can endure. And even God takes a break sometimes.

Drifting.Mp3(c) 2012 William Cushman (3:48 / 4.35Mb)To directly download to your computer click this icon:--------Royalty and Commercial free Want to use this piece in your project or website at no cost? Just ask. Send me a quick email: Email-Bill

Tuesday, July 03, 2012

Hey.. quick post. All of the content on this blog has been powered by Apple's iDisk, Mobile Me service for almost a decade. As of the 1st, they closed it down.
I've been working frantically over the past few months to "repair" and redirect everything.. but I've only fixed the first 8 or so.

IN A nutshell.. the newer posts are fine.. the older posts are glitchy.. I'm working diligently to fix them, if you are desperate, let me know and I'll email you a link to anything you need.

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Any chord that can be decomposed into a series of Perfect or augmented fourths is called a Quartal chord. To me, they've always sounded elusive and otherworldly.. probably because we hear them used in music used to orchestrate the Star Trek Series.
I was goofing around with a G quartal chord.. and it made me think of orbiting a beautiful cloud planet.. dipping my toes into the exosphere.. marveling at God's creation..

Tuesday, May 29, 2012

I've been unsatisfied with the technique I've used so far to record my music. It involves sitting down at an electronic keyboard and recording into a digital studio... oh.. it works.. but it's just not the same as a real piano.

Today, while it was raining outside, while I was home from work with my youngest, while mommy went on a field trip with the oldest.. I tried something else. I took my iPhone and stuck it in my empty coffee cup and sat it on the edge of the piano. You can hear the baby voicing her opinion in the background.

Our roof has been leaking for years. Finally, after much prayer and patience, God has graced us with the ability to get a new roof. But right in the middle of the roofing process, with only the tar paper down, the sky opened up and soaked us with a torrential downpour. It's still a little leaky and I've been crawling around up there in-between squalls trying to plug the holes with tar.

This piano piece is nothing more than me trying to exercise patience.. just grabbing hold of something tangible and working it with my hands.. literally staring out the window into the face of the storm. But if there's one thing I've learned in my crazy life, it's that I, Me, Bill.. can't do it alone. I'm just not that cool.

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Loss can be a horrible word. None of us likes losing something or someone.

Sometimes facing our loss is the hardest thing we ever have to do.

But sometimes it is the very action of our acknowledgment that makes us stronger and wiser.

I wrote this piece for a friend of mine during a rough time in her life. This solo piano piece captures my interpretation of her loss, the difficult climb out of the pain to a place of resolution and acceptance.

But I seem to miss the wonderment of my youth. I don't want to forget it, or go without it forever.

How foolish am I? Compared to Eternity, I Am a child... fumbling about.. still immature and unknowing.
Instead of Dreaming of the past.. we should dream of the future, when one day our clouded judgment will finally become clear.

The delight of my childhood was simple and true ..but it never left.. I just have to open my eyes to it.

The music to this idea takes a winding path.. follow it as it finds its way.

*Special thanks to Tom Forrest for the photo.*Click the picture to go to his website.Want to use this piece in your project or website - Royalty & Commercial free at no cost?Just ask. Send me a quick email: Email-Bill

Monday, February 01, 2010

I love our new little baby girl. I especially love to watch her sleep.

Sometimes, while asleep, she smiles.. sometimes she giggles. I find myself feeling so happy while I'm watching her sweet face.

I wonder what babies dream about?

It is beautiful to see such innocence.. and it's even harder to know - that as our little one travels along through the storms of life, it is our job.. My job.. to guide her.. to protect her.. to be a guiding light for her as best as I can.

I know I can't do everything. I mean, I'm only human.. and I won't be around forever, or even able to keep up with her as she gets older.

But there is a light that will always be there.

So the most important thing that I have to do is help introduce her to my Father. The One. The Light in the dark.. Who never will let her down.. Who loves unconditionally.. Who knows her heart.

But for now, sleep and dream your wonderful baby dreams.. it's not time to be awake just yet.

Sunday, August 02, 2009

Several years ago, when my wife, Shannon was going through an especially heartbreaking miscarriage, I wrote a song for her. The simple act of recording this song helped her to heal and move past the pain. It is a song that could apply to any woman going through a rough time in their life. As a man, there is so much that I could not relate to.. but one thing I do understand is that our belief in God's will in our lives is stronger than anything this world can throw at us.

The site that is shown above is an amazing resource for families that have lost a child. All of my music is available for use for any NILMDTS photographer without having to ask permission.

The music is listed below.. and special thanks to Todd Roberson who played electric guitar on this track.A Woman.Mp3(c) 2009 William Cushman (2:50 / 3.3Mb)

To directly download to your computer click this icon:Want to use this piece in your project or website - Royalty & Commercial free at no cost?Just ask. Send me a quick email: Email-Bill

Welcome to William Cushman's Ghostnotes

Click below to download (via DROPBOX) my FIRST royalty-free CD, "William Cushman's Ghost Notes Vol. 1". This CD contains the first 11 selections from this blog. All of the selections are recorded in full CD quality Aiff format, better for professional video and slideshows than the free posted mp3 versions. After requesting my permission (via email) you may utilize any of the pieces on my cd in any of your multimedia projects completely royalty free. Every Purchase helps me keep the free music available. 10% of every purchase will be donated to charity.As a BONUS I am now including a MP3 collection of almost every single recording on this site, PLUS many recordings that aren't featured here At All! Price $7.99. This collection will ONLY be provided as a digital download link.

Total Pageviews

Facebook

Blog Archive

last

Share it

Subscribe To

Search This Blog

Followers

About Me

I'm just an Ordinary guy who can play piano.
After years of searching, trying different styles and experimenting in varying directions, I was blessed to find a compositional technique that suits me best. These piano compositions are created at one sitting without any pre-writing or design. They are completely improvisational.. almost stream of consciousness.. no practicing, just what I feel at the moment, completely raw.
Free to use for: Healing, Multimedia projects, Live events, Performance, Inspiration.
I call this blog, Ghost Notes.. because it's not my music. This is God's music through me.
And it's for You.
However, All works on this blog are Copyright protected.
For royalty-free permission simply contact me using my email link in my profile, or at the top of the blog. Thanks!